(The following story by Tawnya Panizzi was published in the January 10 issue of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.)
O’HARA, Pa. — Norfolk Southern Railroad’s crossing at Riverfront Drive will remain blocked as the battle over its closure chugs along.
The state Public Utility Commission (PUC) denied a request by O’Hara Township for the immediate opening of the access, which crosses Norfolk Southern’s lines into the Fox Chapel Yacht Club and an under-construction housing development, which is expected to house more than 1,000 people.
The crux of the debate, whether the crossing is public or private, is set to be decided by a PUC administrative law judge. No date has been set.
Railway officials blocked the crossing with bright orange barrels on Dec. 2, leaving township heads, business owners and more than 80 residents dumbfounded. They claim the closing was done without notice and creates a danger for motorists trying to exit the riverfront area.
“It is obviously an inconvenience but we’re more concerned for public safety,” said O’Hara Township Manager Doug Arndt.
The barricade leaves only one access road for the riverfront community, which currently houses a restaurant, spa, marina and the first phase of Continental Communities’ Residence of the Docks, a 398-unit apartment complex. It forces motorists to use the crossing at Fairview Road, which channels traffic onto Old Freeport Road and creates a three-way merging point with cars from Route 28.
“This goes back to 1998 when we were first approached about upgrading the crossing,” said Rudy Husband, Norfolk Southern spokesman.
Then, potential developer Continental Communities committed to spend $140,000 to improve safety at the crossing by adding lights and gates. But railway officials turned them down, Husband said, because they felt such improvements were outweighed by the impending increase in traffic — from 500 vehicles a day to almost 4,000.
“When fully leased, these apartments will increase the traffic using Riverfront Crossing by 700 percent,” he said. “The dire safety implications are clear: the dramatic increase in the number of vehicle crossings substantially increases the risk of collisions.”
Instead, Norfolk Southern officials preferred to see “the Zambrano model,” Husband said, referring to developer Gene Zambrano and his construction of a tunnel to access a similar development, Chapel Harbor at the Water, about a half-mile away. Husband said the railway currently is talking with O’Hara and Blawnox officials about routes to satisfy public safety at Riverfront Drive, whether it be a bridge over the rail line or a tunnel beneath it.
Prior to the access closing, O’Hara Township officials filed a petition with the PUC to deem Riverfront Crossing a public one. No ruling has yet been issued.
“With full knowledge that the railroads would actively oppose a new public crossing for safety reasons, and without any contrary order from the PUC that would permit the Riverfront Crossing’s continued use, Continental nevertheless went ahead and developed their complex,” Husband said.
Mabon Lichtenfels, regional project manager for Continental Communities, contends that the crossing is public and that the developer inherited land deeds that specify ownership of it. Aside from what Lichtenfels said is a safety risk for tenants and employees, the blocked crossing has caused a significant dip in unit leasing, he said.
“There has been a noticeable change in our leasing traffic,” he said. “It’s affecting us greatly.”
The long-term effect on the housing complex remains to be seen. Lichtenfels said it depends on how long the crossing remains closed.
“Everyone’s trying to get a game plan,” he said. “If we need to, we may ask the Commonwealth Court to open it back up.”